UI Alumni Association president and CEO steps down
University of Illinois Alumni Association President and Chief Executive Officer Loren R. Taylor has stepped down after 18 years in the position. UI Alumni Association Board Chairman Bill Stratton, 85 LAS, and the Board’s Executive Committee will work with UI Alumni Association Senior Vice President and Chief Operating Officer Andrea Ballinger, ’98 LAS, MBA ’08, and University leadership on a succession plan.
Taylor worked in the alumni relations profession for more than 30 years. He joined the UI Alumni Association as president and CEO in 1998, and became the longest serving leader in the organization’s history. Taylor previously served as associate vice president and executive director of the Alumni Association at the University of South Florida, Tampa, Fla.
“Through Loren’s leadership, the UI Alumni Association has created value and impact for University of Illinois alumni and the University System,” Stratton said. “He has been a tremendous asset and has made numerous contributions to the organization and alumni base.”
During Taylor’s tenure, he led a successful fundraising campaign to construct the Alice Campbell Alumni Center on the Urbana-Champaign campus, helped grow the Illinois Connection advocacy program, increased international alumni engagement and initiated plans for a University of Illinois Welcome Center.
“Loren is to be commended to his loyalty and diligence in serving the University of Illinois and its legion of alumni for nearly two decades,” said Tim Killeen, president of the University of Illinois System. “His accomplishments were many. Among them were initiatives to expand the U of I brands nationally and globally, and to launch a professional grassroots advocacy network that amplifies the U of I voice in Springfield and Washington, D.C.”
On behalf of the UI Alumni Association Board of Directors and entire staff, and the more than 700,000 University of Illinois alumni, we are grateful to Loren Taylor for his service and contributions to the UI Alumni Association and University.
